Recent Forced Evictions in France: the Calm before the Storm

13 July 2016

Budapest, Paris, 13 July 2016:  A report released today by the European Roma Rights Centre and the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme, shows a marked decrease in the number of evictions taking place in France during the second quarter of this year, compared with previous quarters and years. These most recent figures are likely not all they seem however, and probably represent only a lull in the storm of relentless and uncompromising forced evictions which have plagued French Roma over the past few years. 

Almost a thousand Roma were forcibly evicted in the second quarter of this year, a significant decrease from the 3, 573 evictees of the first quarter. Whilst these figures would normally be cause for celebration, they should be regarded with caution. The situation for Roma in France is far from improved, and this reprieve is likely only a momentary pause before the summer period which so often sees the highest number of evictions. A high number of evictions were also delayed or postponed during this quarter and will likely be implemented in the coming summer quarter.

The areas at most risk of eviction are the North of France, Marseille and île de France.
The ERRC reiterates the OPRE joint statement made by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Agency for Fundamental Rights, the Council of Europe and other international bodies, denouncing the human cost of evictions and calling for the respect of Roma rights.

“Evictions have long-term, deeply negative implications on the life situation of those concerned and would violate their human rights if not accompanied by the necessary safeguards recalled in this statement” – OPRE Joint Statement

The ERRC and our partner in France, the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme, continue to demand French authorities cease their illegal policy of systematic evictions and put in place workable, long-term solutions which support integration and the root causes of inequality, before unlawful evictions take place.

The full report on the census of forced evictions of Roma in France for the second quarter of 2016 is available here.

This press release is also available in French.

For more information contact:

Radost Zaharieva
Country Facilitator for France
European Roma Rights Centre
0033 7 61 06 06 78
radost.zaharieva@errc.org 

Jonathan Lee
Communications Officer
European Roma Rights Centre
0036 1 413 22 44
jonathan.lee@errc.org